Rebecca was awarded Freedom of the Mystery of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in 2019, more commonly known as the Goldsmiths’ Company. It is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London and received its first royal charter in 1327. The purpose of the Goldsmiths’ Company is to contribute to British national life by supporting its related crafts, industry and trade and through wider charitable and educational activity.
In 2019 Rebecca also became a Freeman of the City of London. Today most of the practical reasons for obtaining the Freedom of the City have disappeared. It nevertheless remains as a unique part of London’s history to which many people who have lived or worked in the City have been proud to be admitted.
Rebecca actively contributes to the jewellery and craft professions throughout the UK. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ), She is able to network, debate and converse with some of the UK’s leading jewellers. The ACJ is devoted to the promotion, representation, understanding and development of contemporary jewellery. Rebecca has built up the Associations online profile by setting up and continually updating five Network pages as well as contributing regularly by writing articles to the recent Findings publication.
Rebecca was a member of the board of trustees at Farnham Maltings. Farnham Maltings is a cultural organisation, based in south west Surrey, that exists to encourage the people of Farnham and further afield to participate in, shape and understand the world in which we live. We believe that by being actively creative, connecting with others and articulating new ideas we will foster a happier, healthier and more inclusive set of communities.
Rebecca was also an active member of the Surrey Hills Arts Advisory group. Surrey Hills Arts is a partnership with Surrey Arts, Surrey County Council and the Surrey Hills. It aims to engage and inspire people with this outstanding landscape and its unique natural, cultural and industrial heritage through the arts.
Rebecca has been involved in the Craft Council Hothouse programme, firstly taking part in the interview process of applicants, advising during workshops and sessions for the hothouse participants as well as taking part in the 2016 and 2018 selection committee and Mentoring a participant in 2017 and 2019.
As a founder member of the Jewellers and Silversmiths Network Rebecca took the leading role in applying for and winning funding in 2010 to undertake an exchange and run a symposium. The Jewellers and Silversmiths Network (JSN) is a group run by its members for its members with the aim of getting to know other makers. As members we enable the group to take advantage of or create opportunities that would not be available to us as individuals. The group regularly exchanges useful information and skills and exhibits as a group allowing people to appreciate and purchase our work.
Rebecca was a member of the Board of Trustees for the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham. The New Ashgate Gallery is a non-profit educational charity, which promotes contemporary visual arts and crafts to as wide a public as possible. This is achieved through a programme of changing exhibitions, projects with artists, makers, projects of support and development delivered by the trust with local, national and international partnerships and educational events. Rebecca still regularly works with the Director of the New Ashgate Gallery to set up an annual Rising Stars symposium and exhibition event, building on the success each year.
As a past member of the executive committee for the Hand Engravers Association of Great Britain Rebecca contributed to the Associations aims, in 2015 this included running an all day event called Engraving for All with UK and international talks and all day workshop activities. The aim of the Association is to reignite an interest and understanding of this rich and diverse skill by raising the profile of hand engraving, education and training.
Rebecca keeps in good contact with the Goldsmiths Centre, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Weston Beamor, British Art Medal Association, the Worshipful Company of Pewterers, Surrey Hills Arts as well as other organisations that have contributed to competitions, commissioning and funding student activites across postgraduate and undergraduate courses.
As part of her lecturer role Rebecca was part of the Teaching and Learning Working group that undertakes a variety of roles from developing the University’s staff and student teaching resources to developing and writing University policies and procedures.
Collaborative partnerships were also undertaken and cross-disciplinary activities within the University, for example working closely with the Widening Participation team on Widening Participation Stars Workshops for disadvantaged children, teachers’ days and special events. This helps recruitment for the course, widens locals awareness of events within the University and encourages the younger generation to consider Arts and Crafts for their future careers.
Mentoring as part of programmes or unofficially has been ongoing for many years, mentoring PGC students, new members of staff and small businesses. Rebecca is also a mentor for the 2019 Hothouse Programme.